PA-RISC information - since 1999

HP Visualize X-Class NT Workstations

Quick Facts
Introduced 1999
Period Intel
Series Visualize
CPU 1-2 Pentium III
Cache 512-1024 KB
RAM 2 GB
Design Intel GX
Drives 1 FD
4 IDE
Expansion 1 AGP
4 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
I/O 2 serial
parallel
2 USB
audio

HP Visualize X-Class were Intel-based personal workstations for Windows NT, released in 1999. With the Pentium III-based X-Class, HP complemented its expensive PA-RISC workstations for entry-level technical design.

X-Class X500 to X550 (model A5014A) were high-performance HP NT workstations, above similar, but lower-tier Visualize P-Class.

1999 ad by Hewlett Packard

Based on Intel Pentium III processors and up to two-way SMP capable with Intel 440GX chipset, X-Class used modern 32-bit Xeon CPUs in contrast to Katmai/Coppermine and BX P-Class.

HP Visualize X-Class were dedicated professional graphics workstations for 3D design, CAD and CAM on Windows NT, used for professional digital content creation.

HP Visualize X500
X500, Thomas Schanz CC BY-SA 4.0

Visualize X-Class shared almost nothing with the PA-RISC based Visualize brethren but the Visualize graphics adapters, which they use in modified + Versions on AGP. They also were shipped with 3rd-party graphics such as Elsa Gloria Synergy.

The dark-grey mini-tower HP X-Class used was similar to PA-RISC HP Visualize B1000, C3000, C3600, C3700 workstations and slightly different to P-Class.

The later different Visualize x-class workstations were released soon after, based on Pentium III Xeon processors with RCC chipset, HP models A1280A and A1280B.

System architecture

Processors

X500 and X550 use Pentium III Xeon processors with 512 KB or 1 MB L2 cache on full-frequency. CPUs are installed in SEC cartridges in two Slot 2 slots.

System CPU Speed L1 Cache L2 Cache*
X500 1-2 Intel Pentium III 500 MHz 32 KB on-chip 0.5-1.0 MB on-package
X550 1-2 Intel Pentium III 550 MHz 32 KB on-chip 512 KB back-side on-package

Chipset

System buses

Memory

Expansion slots

Storage

External ports

Operating systems

Pictures

HP Visualize X-Class HP Visualize X-Class HP Visualize X-Class HP Visualize X-Class
HP Visualize X500, Thomas Schanz 2015, CC BY-SA 4.0

Dimensions

System Height Width Depth Weight
Desktop 510mm 270mm 416mm 22kg

The LCD panel on front of the case shows BIOS and configuration info and errors by the BIOS, enhanced by beeps. The LCD can also be used for diagnostics.

Benchmarks

No official SPECint or fp results could be found for HP Visualize X-Class, so a similar Dell workstation 610 with GX chipset is taken as reference.

* - assumed results based on reference data
System Processor SPEC95 int SPEC95 fp SPEC2000 int SPEC2000 fp
HP Visualize P500* (BX) Intel Pentium III 500 MHz 20.7* 14.7* 231* 191*
Dell Precision 610 Pentium III 500MHz 21.6* 15.5*
Dell Precision 610 Pentium III 550MHz 24.2* 16.8*
HP Visualize B1000 PA-8500 300 MHz 23.9 39.3
HP Visualize C3000 PA-8500 400 MHz 31.8 52.4 313 321
HP Visualize C3750 PA-8700+ 875 MHz 678 674

Documentation

Manuals

Articles

Drivers and BIOS

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